Other events in Baltic States

Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that Estonia is supporting the alleviation of the humanitarian crisis in Iraq with 70,000 euros through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), reports BC Foreign Ministry press department.

“Nearly two million internal refugees are currently facing a critical situation in Iraq and there is a real threat to the lives of ethnic and religious minorities,” Paet added.

According to the UN, the situation is deteriorating very rapidly. Within only five days, the number of internal refugees increased by 200,000.

Foreign Minister Paet said that Estonia harshly condemns the violence perpetrated by extremist armed groups in Iraq led by the Islamic State, as well as the accompanying massive human rights violations. “The execution of imprisoned soldiers and brutal violence against civilians is particularly condemnable,” Paet said, and added that some crimes must be treated as crimes against humanity.

According to the Estonian Foreign Minister, the Islamic State group is endangering the security and stability of the entire region. “The Iraqi army including members of the Kurdistan security forces are trying to stop the extremists from advancing. The Kurdistan Regional Government has requested support for its armed forces, to which several EU Member States and the United States have responded to with weapons shipments,” Paet said. “Estonia is also considering such support, while observing carefully that the support does not reach the hands of unwanted forces," he added.

Paet stated that it is important to contribute to dialogue held amongst all Iraqi moderate political forces. “We support Iraq's unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, which are necessary for the stability and economic development of both the country itself and the entire region,” Paet noted, adding that close cooperation between the security forces of Iraq's central government and Kurdistan’s regional authorities is essential.